Moisture tester for controlling recirculation of material in drying apparatus



n 1949- A. B. WELTY 2,474,204

MOISTURE TESTER FOR CONTROLLING RECIRGULA'I 'ION OF MATERIAL IN DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 21, 19.49. A. B. WELTY 2, 74,

MOISTURE TESTER FOR CONTROLLING RECIRCULATION 0F MATERIAL IN DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 27, 1944 I 4 Shee ts-Shet 2 June 21, 1949. A. B. WELTY FOR 0 OF MATERIAL IN Original Filed March 27, 1944 2 CULATION DRYING APPARATU MOISTURE TESTER ONTROLLING- RECIR 4 Sheets-Shed s June 21, 1949.

. A. B. WELTY MOISTURE TESTER FOR CON TROLLING RECIRCULATION OF MATERIAL IN DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed March 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 143 J)? I "9 ////////1 I .dration. It is Patented June 2 1, 1949 2,474,204 MOISTURE TESTER FOR CONTROLLING RE- CIRCULATION APPARATUS Albert E. Weit'y, Molln national Harvester C New Jersey Original application Marc 528,255. Divided 0F MATERIAL IN DRYING e, IllL, assignor to Inter- 1945, Serial No. 598,315

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for automatically diverting a stream of grain from a regular discharge spout when a test determines that the moisture contained in a sample of the stream exceeds a predetermined amount.

Preliminary to the storing of corn or other grains or cereals, it is essential that the corn be dried sufiiciently so that it has no tendency to The problem of drying corn is disclosed more fully in my copending application having Serial No. 528,254,11ow Patent No. 2,410,851 dated November 12, 1946 filed March 27, 1944, and entitled Grain dehydrator. Drying or dehydrating of moist shelled corn is an important process as it is required that the moisture content of the processed corn upon the completion of the dehy dration be not more than a specified maximum. In order to calculate the amount of moisture in kernels of corn, it has been necessary to drive out the remaining moisture by heat and figure the percentage of procedure is very complex and requires a great length of time.

type of dehydrator, it is-desirable that the dehythe dehydrated corn be tested but only that samples taken at intervals be tested so as to prevent corn being stored which still contains too much moisture conducive to preservation.- If the dehydrating arrangement is such that'the corn upon ate moisture content indication.

This application is a division of my copending application for a Moisture tester" having Serial No. 528,255 and filed March 27, 1944.

A further important object of this invention is y the provision of a mechanical device for determining hardness of kernels of corn or other that moisture by weight. This moisture tester of this invention;

When corn is beingdried in any I in Figure 1;

not, of course, necessary that all cereals and having association with a discharge 'hydrated grain which is permitted ompany, a corporation of h 27, 1944, Serial No. and this application June 8,

spout from a corn dehydrator so that samples of corn are taken from this discharge spout at regular intervals and fed to the testing device, and, also, corn which is found to be too moist by its lack of hardness is diverted from the regular discharge spout so that it reenters the corn dehydrator.

A still further important object is to provide a method of testing and handling grain in a continuously operating dehydrating plant preliminary to storage of the grain.

Another and still-further important object is to provide a device for automatically controlling the maximum amount of moisture content in dein grain to be stored in a dry grain receptacle.

Other and further important apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in

which: 7 I v 1 Figure 1 is a front elevation 01' the mechanical Figure 2 is a sectional view taken .on the line 22 of Figure 1;

; Figure 31s a side elevation of the device shown Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the linev 5-'-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a 1-'lof Figure 2;

Figure-8 is a perspective detail of a portion of the plunger tester;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of the upper portion of the moisture tester device; and

1 Figure 10 is an electrical circuit used in the moisture tester.

sectional .view taken on the line to the conduit I0 is presumed to be dried sufficiently for storage purposes and hence is allowed to go out through the dry gate I2 is provided within the conduit In in such a manner that it may cover the passage to the dry spout II. This gate member I2 is hinged at 13 and may be in the position shown in Figure 1 where it is closing passage to a spout M. This spout I4 is known as the wet spout. When it objects will be I has been determined that the moisture content of corn is too high for good preserving characteristics, the valve gate I2 is swung about its hinge l3 so it lies against the spout H and causes corn coming down the conduit ID to be diverted out through the spout l4. The spout l4 feeds the corn back into the dehydrator rather than to a storage bin such as when the corn goes out through the spout H. automatically as a result of the hardness test carried On in the device shown beneath the two spouts II and I4. As previously stated the corn coming down through the conduit I!) normally passes out the dry spout II, and unless the corn is found to be too wet it continues to exit through this spout ll. Within the conduit I6 is a tube [5 which projects downwardly beyond the spouts II and 14. A partition I6 is positioned in the top of the conduit l and joins with the tube l5. It will be evident that the dried corn coming down the conduit ID will have free access to a chamber l1 formed by the partition IS. The corn thus diverted to the chamber l1 will run down intothe tube IS. A pair of valve devices is positioned within the tube l and consists of sliding gates l8 and I9, respectively. The valve gate is projects outwardly beyond the tube l5 and has an aperture 26 therein. The portion of the sliding gate member l8 within the tube is solid and prevents passage of corn. It will be evident that the corn within the chamber 11 travels down to the gate 13 and then proceeds to fill up without letting any of the corn pass down into the lower portion of the tube IS. The portion of the tube l5 between the valve gates l8 and I9 is designated by the numeral 2i, and it is that amount of corn between these two valve gates l8 and I9 that is just the right amount of corn necessary to perform a sample test of its hardness. The valve gate I9 is also slidable transversely through the tube l5 and has an aperture 22 corresponding to the aperture in the valve gate IS. The valve gate H), as shown in Figures 1 and 9, is in its extreme rightward position so that the aperture 22 within the gate is concentric with the tube l5, thus permitting passage of corn within the tube l5. The means for sliding the gates is so arranged that the openings 20 and 22 will never be in alinement within the tube IE but rather will alternately be open and closed.

An actuator rod 23 carries lugs 24 and 25. The conduit in is provided with adequate housing structure 26 upon which is pivoted a bell-crank 21 at 28 and a bell-crank 29 at 30. A depending arm 3! of the bell-crank 21 is equipped with a pin 32 which is adapted to slide within an elongated slot 33 in a bracket 34 mounted rigidly with the valve gate 19. Another arm 35 of the bell-crank 21 is joined by means of a spring 36 to an arm 31 of the bell-crank 29. An arm 38 forms the other portion of the bell-crank 29 and, arm 3|, has a pin 39 which rides within a slot 46 in a bracket 4| forming a part of the valve gate l8. As the bell-cranks 21 and 29 rotate about their pivots 28 and 36, respectively, the sliding gates l9 and I8 are actuated. The actuating rod 23 is shown in its uppermost position wherein the lug has contacted the arm of the bell-crank 21 causing it to move upwardly and pull the sliding valve gate 19 inwardly by means oi. the depending bell-crank arm 3|. The lug 24 on the actuator rod 23 has no function in this position and permits the spring 36 to pull the arm 31 of the bell-crank 29 upwardly. In this position, the

The valve 12 is operated prevents the shaft 52 similar to the Y sliding gate 18 is forced in a leftward direction. When the rod 23 is pulled downwardly, the lug 26 releases the bell-crank arm 35 permitting it to come down by action of the spring 36. As the rod 23 continues in its downward direction, the lug 24 strikes the bell-crank 31, thus causing the opening 20 in the valve plate IE to coincide with the tube 15. In this position the quantity of corn within the portion 2| of the tube I5 is permitted to pass downwardly beyond the valve member l6 and into the moisture testing device.

The moisture testing device is positioned beneath the housing structure 26 and is supported thereto by means of a supporting member 42. Spaced apart side plate members 43 and 44 form the frame structure for the main part of the moisture tester. The support 42 is joined to the support 43 by means of a bolt 45 thus holding the entire device in rigid vertical position. The plates 43 and 44 have a bottom member 46 which maintains the spaced apart position of the side plates and forms the rigid block on which the corn hardness testing is performed. A rib 41 reenforces the bottom plate 46. It will be obvious that the plate 46 and rib 41 are welded to the side plates 43 and 44 at 48 and 49. Plates 50 and 5| are welded to the side frame members 43 and 44 and serve to reeniorce and maintain the plates 43 and 44 in predetermined spaced apart relationship. The upper ends of the frame members 43 and 44 form a journal support for the shaft 52. Bearings 53 and 54 are mounted integrally with the plates 43 and 44, resepctively, and are in alinement to receive the shaft 52. A pin 55 is ailixed within the shaft 52 and projects outwardly beyond the peripheries at opposite sides thereof. The pin engages notches 56 within a collar 51 and from pulling out of the bearing 43.

Directly above the bottom plate 48 and its reenforcing rib 41 is an intermittent gear of the Geneva type 58, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 6. The Geneva gear comprises a downwardly projecting disk member 59 which is equipped with three radial arms 60 which are so spaced that they project beyond gear portions 6| of the Geneva gear 56 at concave surfaces 62. The intermittent Geneva gear is journally rotatable on a shaft 11 which is locked in position by means of a nut 12. An adjacent cooperating intermittent gear 63 is adapted to engage the Geneva gear 58. The intermittent gear 63 is keyed for rotation with a shaft 13 and is constantly rotated by means of an external source of power. A gear portion 64 on the intermittent gear 63 forms only a minor portion of the entire gear circumference and is substantially equal to one of the gear portions 6| of the Geneva gear 58. The gear 63 has a downwardly projecting stud 65 which is adapted to be engaged by the radially projecting arms 66 of the member beneath the Geneva gear 56. Upon one complete revolution of the gear 63, the Geneva gear and its integral under portion 59 will rotate one third revolution. The engagement of the stud 65 by the arms 66 makes positive the starting of the Geneva gear by the gear portion 64 of the gear 63.

As best shown in Figure 6, there are three equidistant holes in the surface of the Geneva gear. These holes are denoted by numerals 66, 61, and 68. All these holes extend entirely through the Geneva gear 58 and its depending disk portion 59. However, the bottom plate 46 is solid except for an opening 69 beneath the hole 68. The hole or well 66 is positioned directly beneath the bottom fastened to the shaft 5 outlet of the sample supply tube I5. It will be noticed that the size of the holes 66, 61, and 68 is substantially equal in diameter to the tube I5, and that the depth of the holes corresponds very closely to the height of the portion 2| between the valve gates I8 and I9. Therefore, when the corn between the valve gates I8 and I9 is permitted to drop in the tube I5, it fills the hole 66. One complete revolution of the gear 63 will advance the hole 66 to the position of the hole 61. However, for purposes of clearer understanding, the hole numbers will be kept the same although it is evident that each hole, during the operation of the machine, takes all three positions. The hole 61 signifies the testing position, and the hole 68 denotes the cleanout position.

The testing hole 61 is shown in greater detail in Figure 4, wherein it is positioned directly beneath a plunger 70. The plunger -I is adapted to come down and compress the corn within the well 61 upon each revolution of the intermittent gear 63.

The cleanout hole 68 is best shown in Figure '7. The hole 69 in the bottom plate is in alinement with the cleanout hole 68, and they are both in alinement with a cleanout plunger I4. Here again, this plunger I4 is operated upon each revolution of the intermittent drivinggear 63.

The driving means for the moisture testing device is secured from some external power supply and is adapted to impart rotation to a pulley I5. The pulley I5 is fastened to the shaft 52 journaled on the supporting plates 43 and 44. A gear 16 is keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft 52, and upon rotation of the pulley I5, it also rotates. The gear I6 cooperates with a gear 'II positioned therebeneath and which is journaled for free rotation on a crank-shaft I8 alsojournaled on the frame members 43 and 44. A bevel gear 19 is fastened to a projecting end of the crank-shaft 18 by means of a pin or the like 80. gear I9 cooperates with a bevel gear 8| which is I3 by means of a pin 82. The shaft I3 is journally supported in bearings 83 and 84 which are in 85 and 86, respectively. The bracket 86 is attached to the supporting plate 43 by means of the bolt 45, and the bracket 85 is attached to the frame plate 43 by means of a bolt 87. Rotation of the crank-shaft I8 causes rotation of the intermittent gear 63.

The gear TI is equipped with an annular flange 88 of a smaller diameter than: that of the gear. The internal periphery of the flange 88 is provided with arcuate or scalloped ratchet teeth 89 and opposite alternate depressions 90. An arm 9I having a hub 92 is fastened to the crank-shaft 18 by means of a pin 93. A pawl member 94 is pivoted at 95 on the arm 9 I. A roller member 96 rotatable about a pin 91 projectin'gfrom an arm 98 on the pawl 94 is adapted to engage the arcuate depressions 90 between the ratchet teeth 89. The arm 9| has a projection 99 to which-is attached a spring I00. The other end of the spring is fastened at IOI to an upwardly extending arm I02 of the pawl member 94. The arms 98 and I 02 of .the pawl member 94 are diametrically'opposed across the pivot shaft 95. The action of the spring I00 normally tends to cause engagement of the pawl wheel 96 with the ratchet teeth. A third arm I03 on the pawl 94 projects outwardly beyond the periphery of the gear 11 and is either restrained or permitted rotational movement about the shaft 95. The spring 'I 00 tends to cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the arm I03, as viewed in Figure 5. Viewing the device in- Figure I 08 and continuously rotates in a clockwise 1, the'arm I 03 is pulled upwardly by the spring I00. A slidable plate I04 has an end I05 which engages the top of the arm I 03, thereby preventing upward movement of this arm. In such position, the gear TI rotates without transmitting its rotation to the crank-shaft I8.

A worm I06 is welded or otherwise fastened to the outer surface of the gear 'I'I, as shown in Figure ,3. Inasmuch as the gear TI constantly rotates with the drive pulley I5, the worm I06 will also rotate. A worm wheel I01 is fastened to a shaft I08 and is driven by cooperative engagement with the worm I06. The shaft I08 is journaled in bearings I09 and H0 in supporting brackets III and II2, which are attached to the frame member 44 by means of bolts II3, A trip member H4 is fastened to the end of the shaft direction, as viewed in Figure l. The sliding stop plate I04 has a cut-out notch II5 which is engageable by an outer extension I I6 of the trip member H4. It will be evident that upon each rotation of the trip member H4, this outer extension II6 will slide the plate I04 outwardly by its contact with the notch IE5. This sliding is permitted by inclined slots II! in the plate I04 through which bolts H8 pass and thereupon engage a stationary member II9 which is welded or otherwise attached to the bracket I I I as at I20. The outward and upward movement of the slidable plate I04 I withdraws its locking extension I 05 from position above the arm I03 of the pawl 94.

The pawl 84 is now permitted to rotate about its pivot 95 upon action of the spring I00. The pawl roller 96 then engages the rotating scalloped ratchet teeth 89-90 and acts as a clutch to transmit rotation of gear II through the pawl 94 and thereupon to the arm 9I. Rotation of the crank-shaft 18 is the result of this tripping and This bevel 1 turn supported by brackets returning the plate clutching operation. The crank-shaft is permitted one revolution, at which time the arm I03 of the pawl 94 again comes into contact with the stop I05 of the plate I04 and prevents further rotation. After the trip arm I I4 has rotated beyond contact with the notch I I5 in the plate I04, the plate will slide back into its original locking position, as shown in Figure 1. The means for I04 to locking position is effected by a spring I04, but in the application as shown the inclined slots III would permit the plate to return to its original position by gravity. The worm-driven trip I04 is in effect a timing devicewhich causes actuation of the moisturetesting' device at predetermined regular intervals. The exact time period will, of course, de-

[pend upon the gear ratios, and, as shown in the drawings, the trip arm I I4 is'set to-operate at approximately every seconds.

A pitman I2I has split sleeve portions extending around the crank-shaft I8 as shown at I22 in Figure 4. The shaft I8 is tion within the split sleeve portions. The sleeve device consists of flanged C-shaped members I23 and I24 having "their flanges fastened together bymeans of bolts I25. Between these clamp flanges I23 and I24 is I26, which projects outwardly to one side thereof as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. The crankarm I 2I is pivotally attached to a tubular sleeve I29 by a shaft I28. The tubular sleeve I29 surrounds a disc member I2I which is welded therewithin. The sleeve and unitary disc I2I are mounted for vertical sliding movement within and 5| in the frame plates 50 and 5|, respectively. The shaft I28 journaled for rotapositioned a trip finger extends through the peripheral walls of the sleeve I29 and, as a result thereof, insures reciprocal movement of the sleeve upon movement of the crank-shaft. This tubular member I29 houses a precompressed spring I30 directly beneath the disc I21 which telescopically extends the upper portion I3I of the plunger member 10. The members I29 and I3I are movable with respect to each other within predetermined limits. The portion I3I is cup-shaped as at I32 for reception of the lower portion of the spring I30. A downward movement of the sleeve unit I29 by rotation of the crank-shaft 18 will effect an attempted compression of the spring I30 and/or a downward movement of the plunger'10. The precompression of the spring I30 supplies the plunger with an initial acting force of the amount of precompression. The test well 61 is filled with dehydrated kernels of corn, and travel of the plunger within this well 61 depends upon the hardness of the corn. It is quite evident, therefore, that the strength of the spring I30 is of importance in efiecting a proper amount of pressure on this dehydrated corn. If a relatively weak spring is employed, then the resultant pressure on the corn in the test cup 61 is small, and, conversely if a strong spring is used, then the pressure on the corn within this test cup is proportionately greater.

The tubular sleeve I29 has diametrically opposed vertical slots I33 through which is positioned a rod I34. The rod passes through the portion I3I of the plunger 10 and is held in position therein by a set screw I35. The rod I34,

therefore, moves with the plunger 10 and provides the separable limit means between the plunger and sleeve by movement of the rod within the slots I33. One end of this rod I34 extends considerably beyond the wall of the tube I29 and comprises a flattened portion I36. An adjustable threaded screw I31 passes through a threaded aperture in the fiat portion I36 of the rod I34. The head of a screw I38 and a lock nut I39 are adjustable to and from the upper surface of the flattened portion I36 of the cross rod I34. The lower end of this screw I31 has a depending trip I40 which is capable of contactin an end I4I of a hinged member I42. The member I42 is hinged on a rod I43 which is journaled in opposed apertures I44 and I45 in the supporting side plates 43 and 44. In addition, this hinged member I42 carries a mercury switch I46 which upon being mechanically tilted is adapted to close an electrical circuit as shown in Figure 10. The precompressed spring I30 and adjustable trip I40 together give the plunger 10 an adjustable predetermined force for compressing samples of grain and thereupon always actuating the electric switch after a similar compression upon the application of the same amount of pressure.

The diverter valve gate I2, which controls flow of corn to either spout II or I4, is operable by means of a U-shaped member I41 having arms I48 and I49. Closing of the electrical circuit by the mercury switch I46 actuates a solenoid I50. A core I5I of the solenoid I50 extends downwardly. to a position immediately above the arm I48 of the valve actuator. A downwardly extending bail or stirrup member I51 forms a part of the reciprocating core I51. The arm I48 of the U-shaped actuator projects within the bail I51, and upen energizing the coils of the solenoid I50 it will be apparent that the core I5I and its unitary stirrup I5I' upon receding within the solenoid I50 will draw the arm I48 upwardly. Such a movement causes the valve gate I2 to shift its position to close the entranceto the dry spout I I and divert all corn coming down through the conduit I0 out through the spout I4. It will be understood, of course, that this results only when compression of the cornin the test wall 81 is of such an extent that the projection I40 tilts the hinged member I42 sufficiently to make contact within the mercury switch I46. The corn from the wet spout is then put'through the dehydrator or dryer again to effect a more complete drying. However, if the corn is hard enough to withstand the force of the spring I30 and prevent the plunger 10 from entering the well 61 to any great extent, the electrical circuit will not be closed, the solenoid I50 will not act, and as a result thereof, corn will continue to flow out of the dry spout.

It has been determined that the hardness of corn bears a definite relationship to its moisture content. Hence, the amount of moisture in corn may be calibrated with respect to the amount of compression. If it is sufficient to have the corn emerge from the dryer with fourteen per cent moisture, then the adjusting screw I3! is set at such a position that it will not actuate the mercury switch 148 until corn having a moisture content of over fourteen per' cent is in the test cup 61. It will be seen, therefore, that as long as the plunger 10 is not able to compress the corn to a greater extent than that allowed by the adjustable screw I31, corn will continue to emerge from the dry spout II. The other arm I49 of the valve actuator member I41 is controlled by a projection I52 of a vertically reciprocable rod I53. The rod I53 is guided by means of brackets I54 and I55. The lower end of the rod I53 is equipped with a ledge-like projection I56 and an elongated inclined slot I51. A bolt I58 is fastened to the bracket I55, projects through the slot I51, and is held therein by the enlarged head portion I59 of the bolt I58. A spring I60 is attached to the rod I53 at I61 and to the bracket I54 at I62 and normally tends to maintain the rod I53 in its uppermost position as limited by the lower end of the elongated slot I51. Rotation of the crank-shaft 18 and corresponding rotation of the trip finger I26 causes the arm I53 to move downwardly and slightly outwardly at the bottom thereof by raising of the trip finger I'26 striking the projecting ledge I56 of the rod I53. It will be seen that upon each revolution of the crank, the rod I53 will be pulled downwardly. As soon as the trip finger I26 leaves the ledge I56, the spring I60 causes the rod I53 to rise. As long as the valve gate I2 is in its position, as shown in Figure 1, the actuator arms I48 and I49 will both be in a downward position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Hence, a downward movement of the rod I53 performs n0 function whatsoever. However, if the compressing of the corn discloses that its moisture content is too high, the operation of the solenoid I50 will have pulled the valve actuator arm I'48 upwardly, and inasmuch as the arm I49 is an integral part of the arm I48 it also will be in an upward position. In this, position, it will be remembered, the corn is coming out of the so-called wet spout I4, and upon operation of the regular test, the rotation of the crankshaft 18 will effect a downward movement of the rod I53 and a pulling down of the valve actuator arm I49 to open the dry spout II and close the wet spout I4. Another test is then auras as permitted by the internal pawl and ratchet clutch, the intermittent gear so will be rotated one revolution. Each revolution of the intermittent gear 63 causes a one-third revolution of the intermittent Geneva gear 68. The device is so timed that after the teeth to on the gear 68 cease moving the gear 58, a sample of corn will fill the well to from. its storage in the tube it within the area 28 confined by the sliding valve members it and is. Simultaneously, the plunger 70 is caused to come down within the test well A third function also simultaneously performed is the cleanout of the well 68. The

operation of the cleanout is best shown in Figure 7. The sleeve l29 has welded thereto a stubshaft see. A lever arm ltd is shown Journally pivoted on this shaft i823 in Figure '7. One end of this arm ltd pivotally supports the upper end of the cleanout plunger it at H85. The other end of the arm its is pivoted to a hinged ids at W7, and it will be evident that upon re= ciprocable movement of the sleeve 529, the shaft use will cause a hinging of the arm Edd about its pivot l'Bl. The arm ltd is hinged at ltd to a bracket IE9 welded or otherwise fastened to the frame plate 5!. Therefore, upon downward movement of the shaft its, the cleanout plunger it travels downwardly through the open-bottomed well 68-69. The well us is then ready to lie-refilled after its rotation to the position 88 shown in Figure 6. The rod 23, which efiects movement of the sampler valves it and i9, is connected at no to the outer end or the clean. out plunger it, and, therefore, when the cleanout plunger moves downwardly, the rod 23 likewise moves downwardly efiecting a closing of the valve plate is and an opening of the valve plate is to thereby drop the sample, charge down the tube l5 into the well 66.

It is obvious that numerous types of apparatus may be employed in efiecting a hardness test which will indicate moisture contained in the grain. Further the method of testing and handling the grain prior to storing is believed to be a departure from practices heretofore followed and for that reason claims have also been directed toward the method as well as the mechanical tester.

The invention is to limit the invention only within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: y i. In a moisture testing device for grain, comprising means ior mechanically testing by com-- pression at regular two intervals samples or continuously pouring grain, plurality of wells therein, means for feeding grain to one of said wells, means for compressing grain in another of said wells, means for cleaning out another of said wells, a pair of spouts adapted to allow passage of the grain, a diverter valve positioned between said spouts so that grain may only.

go out either one or the other smut, and means associated with the mechanical testing device for operating said diverter valve.

' 2. In a moisture testing device for grain, comprising means for mechanically testing by compression at regular time intervals samples of com tlnucusly pouring grain, a rotatable block having a plurality of wells therein, means for feeding corn to one of said wells, means for compressing corn in another of said wells, means for cleaning out another of said wells, a pair-of spouts adapted to allow passage of the shelled corn, a diverter valve positioned between said spouts so that shelled corn may only go out either one or the other spout, and means associated with the mechanical testing device'ior operating said diverter valve.

3. In combination with a moisture tester for cereals and the like material having periodically operating movable means to compress a sample thereof taken periodically from a source of continuously flowing stream of material coming from a drier, a pair of diverging spouts positioned to route said stream of material including a movable diverter valve operable between the spouts to cause the material to flow through one spout or the other depending upon the position of said valve, means connected with the valve to operate the same, andvmeans automatically responsive to a predetermined degree or movement of said movable compressing means to actuate said valve operating means, whereby when the sample is compressed sumciently to indicate too high a moisture content for safe storage the diverter valve routes the material for additional drying.

ER'I'. B. WELTY.

REFERENCES @HTED are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,706 Elchleret al. Aug. 1, 1911 1,341,676 Robert June 1, 1920 1,740,075 Dalton Dec. 17, 1929 a rotatable block having a 

